Cycling Tips

Smart Shifting

Get the most from your engine by being in the right gear at the right time.

brian fiske

(Photo by )

Cyclists are weak. No, we're not singling anyone out—even the fastest pros have a maximum power output that's roughly the equivalent, in horsepower, to a Go-Ped scooter. Gears let us maximize our low-power motors on the bike; specifically, being able to choose a gear that keeps us in our cadence comfort zone, the point at which we can pedal seemingly indefinitely without flailing around or succumbing to a muscle-scorching slow grind.

If you really want to rock the gears, though, you need to know when to shift outside your comfort zone, into a slightly higher (harder) or lower (easier) gear, even momentarily, to suit what you hope to accomplish on the bike. While the old adage "shift early, shift often," still applies, you should add "shift smart" to the mix. Here's how to do it in four common situations.

The Situation: A long, gradual road climb

The Shift: This is usually the easiest shifting situation, after flat terrain. At the base of the climb, you should be in your comfort-zone gear--it varies from rider to rider, but for most of us it's in the 90-revolutions-per-minute range. When your cadence starts to slip, ease the pressure off the pedals slightly and shift into an easier gear. Remember, shifting in the front means a big resistance change; rear shifts are for fine-tuning your cadence. If you need to stand, shift up a cog or two in the rear; the slightly harder gear will allow a smooth transition. Shift between these sitting and standing gears as you make your way up the climb.

The Situation: A moderately steep, twisty, rocky descent on your mountain bike; the trail ends smoothly before transitioning to a long climb

The Shift: This is a heavy shifting situation. On the way down the slope, you'll want to shift around to stay on the harder-geared side of your comfort zone, so you can power out of corners and over most obstacles. (But don't stray too far—if you get hung up on something, you'll want to be in a gear you can manage at a slower pace.) During the transition, soft pedal and shift to the lower gear you'll need to start the climb—you want to be in your comfort zone at the beginning of the uphill.

The Situation: A group road ride that's heading into a sprint-finish area

The Shift: The biggest mistake most of us make in just-for-fun sprints is telegraphing our move--we suddenly (and noisily) shift into much higher gears, alerting everyone to our intentions. Surreptitious presprint shifting is partially done in advance (with the front chainring) and partially on the fly--you need to be in only a slightly harder gear to start, as upshifts in the rear can be managed after you jump. Move up one gear at a time, spinning out each gear (meaning faster than your comfort zone) before shifting again.

The Situation: A rock-strewn, technical climb on your mountain bike

The Shift: Use too low a gear on a loose, technical climb and you'll spin the rear wheel, lose momentum, and come to a halt. To avoid that, climb in a slightly higher-than-comfort-level gear, which helps the rear tire grip the terrain and gives you leeway for the short power bursts needed to ascend larger rocks or log step-ups. Don't expect to reach the top of the climb without feeling your muscles burn—in a good way, of course.